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What is the best time of year to sell a home?

Scott Austin • May 10, 2021

Factors to consider when listing your home for sale

This story + many more are available in our 1st edition of the Zoom Mortgage and Property Magazine. 

TIMING CAN BE a significant factor in property selling prices, and so it’s natural to worry about getting it right. Within the property market, there is much written about when the best time to buy and sell is. But ultimately the decision to move should be a personal one. It’s important to take other factors into account like your
financial situation, the current condition of your home, if you plan to make any improvements, and whether or not local market conditions are in your favour.

SEASON
Spring always comes out on top as the best time to sell. This is probably because people aren’t away for the summer holidays or busy with Christmas celebrations. There are plenty of prospective buyers hoping to
move into their new home by the summer, and they’re motivated to act quickly. Summer often sees the property market slow down, as prospective buyers will be taking holidays and are less available to attend viewings or to move through the sales process. Activity increases again in autumn. The back-to-work period drives potential buyers to resume their search, with the aim of moving in for Christmas. Winter is typically the quietest period for the property market, particularly in the festive season, when potential buyers have other priorities. Factors to consider when listing your home for sale 

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO SELL A HOME? THE ACADEMIC YEAR
The academic year runs September to March, and this influences the property market in a couple of ways.
Firstly, most families will be hoping to move over the summer holiday period, and so will be looking at properties in the first half of the year. Families will be least keen to move in the first and second terms of the
school year (September to December and January to March). Secondly, many tenancy periods begin and end in September – a pattern that some renters establish as students. First-time buyers may be keen to ensure their property purchase is complete before the end of their tenancy period as the alternative can be costly or inconvenient.

HOLIDAY PERIODS
While the summer and Christmas holidays usually signal a slowdown in sales, other holidays can work in sellers’ favour. Bank holiday weekends in May and over Easter often see a spike in viewings, at a time of year that’s already busy. If you’re listing your property in summer, doing so close to the August bank holiday might help you overcome the seasonal slump. After the slow festive season, the New Year holiday tends to bring a rebound in buyer numbers, who find a fresh commitment to their property hunt as part of their resolutions.

CORONAVIRUS
Taking a longer-term view, sellers may be wondering if 2021 is a good or bad year to sell property, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. There are several factors to consider: 
HOUSE PRICES House prices have fallen this year, so you may get less for your property. There’s also
an increased likelihood of house prices falling in the near future, which might put you off buying somewhere new.

WILLINGNESS TO BUY
With the current uncertainty over the future of the pandemic and the economy, buying now might be a greater risk than many are comfortable with. A low number of prospective buyers usually means a worse time to sell.

MORTGAGE AVAILABILITY
Even if there are those willing to buy, it might be difficult for these potential buyers to secure mortgage approval. People who have been furloughed may find they can’t borrow as much as they expect, which can
delay or prevent your sale.

WHAT TYPE OF PROPERTY DO YOU HAVE?
You should consider what type of property you have and whom it will attract. If you have a large family home then it’s likely that viewings will increase during term time as most parents prefer to view a home while
the kids are out of the way. On the other hand, if you own a bungalow then you might find that you have more
viewings in the summer, as older buyers prefer to move in the warmer months. It’s also important that your property doesn’t stay on the market for too long. If you want to get the best price then you should aim for a quick sale, as the longer  it stays on the market the more likely it is that the buyer will think you might accept a
lower offer.
You also should be aware of what’s going on in the housing market, both nationally and locally, and consult with an experienced estate agent on what time of year is best for you to sell your property. As well as seasonal changes though, your local area can also be a factor on whether it is a good time to sell your home. If there
is local planning permission for building works or road works planned nearby then this could be off-putting for potential buyers, in which case you may want to put your plans on hold. In any case, it’s a good idea to contact your local council to find out about any intended plans or proposals.

>> SELLING YOUR HOME? <<
If you are looking to sell your property, it’s important not to base this solely on a specific season. The key is that your property is marketed to maximise its full potential and value. To discuss your requirements,
please speak to Zoom Mortgage – telephone 08003101210 – email Contactus@zoommortgage.co.uk.

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This story + many more are available in our 1st edition of the Zoom Mortgage and Property Magazine. Available for you for free here https://zoommortgage.lpages.co/zoom-mortgage-property-magazine THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) pandemic led to the virtual disappearance of mortgages that only required a 5% deposit. But the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced on 3 March a new initiative during his Budget 2021 speech. The government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme is open to first-time buyers and home movers across the UK and is aimed at encouraging banks and building societies to offer 95% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages again. The announcement is tremendous news for first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder at a time when, for many, owning a home may seem an impossible dream as they would otherwise not be able to find a large deposit to secure a mortgage deal. GETTING ON THE HOUSING LADDER The announcement aims to stimulate the housing market and get more people onto the housing ladder. The Chancellor said there was good evidence that ‘this will help those that are getting on the housing ladder disproportionately to other home movers.’ He said: ‘We know from the previous time we did it, it helped 100,000 people buy a home and the average value of a home bought under the scheme was £160,000, compared to the average price of a home which at that time was more like £225,000. ‘And 80% were first-time buyers, so it feels like it is a policy that is quite well targeted to help people get on the housing ladder.’ ACROSS THE UK The government introduced the scheme for new mortgage applications which commenced from April and provides a guarantee to lenders across the UK that offer mortgages to people with a deposit of five per cent on homes with a value of up to £600,000. This scheme is for any ‘creditworthy’ household struggling to save for a higher deposit. These will be standard residential mortgages – so no second homes or buy-to- lets. If the borrower gets into financial difficulty and their property is repossessed, the government will cover that element of the lender’s losses. The scheme opened for new mortgage applications from April and will be open to new applications until December 2022. Several of the country’s largest lenders, including Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Barclays and HSBC, are offering these 95% mortgages, with others to follow shortly after. The mortgages must be on a repayment basis, not interest-only. And borrowers will need to be credit checked and meet the standard rules on affordability. All lenders under the scheme will also offer mortgages fixed for at least five years, providing options for buyers with smaller deposits who want the security and predictability of a mortgage with a fixed rate over a longer term. Eligible mortgages guaranteed under the scheme will need to: • be a residential mortgage (not second homes) and not buy-to-let • be taken out by an individual or individuals rather than an incorporated company • be on a property in the UK with purchase value of £600,000 or less • have a loan-to-value (LTV) of between 91% and 95% of the value of the property • be originated between the dates specified by the scheme • be a repayment mortgage and not interest-only • meet standard requirements in terms of the assessment of the borrower’s ability to pay the mortgage, for example, a loan-to- income and credit score test LIFELINE FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS Thanks to soaring house prices and tighter rules on mortgage approvals, the first rung of that famous property ladder can be very hard to reach. So the new government backed mortgage guarantee scheme will be a lifeline for those first-time buyers trying to get on the housing ladder. >> GET AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH YOU COULD BORROW << Are you ready to buy a property? You’ve dreamed of owning a home for as long as you can remember, or maybe you’re looking to move to another property. Now the new government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme could make it a reality. To discuss your options and get an estimate on how much you can borrow, contact Zoom Mortgage – telephone 0800310121 – email contactus@ zoommortgage.co.uk
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